Which is Better between the Chinook and the German Pinscher? A Very Detailed Review.

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Chinook Versus German Pinscher: Introduction

Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the Chinook and the German Pinscher? Well, you have come to the right place. Because in this article, we will provide you with a detailed comparison of these two dog breeds to help you decide which of the Chinook and the German Pinscher better suits you.

We will provide you a detailed discussion and comparison of dog attributes such as intelligence, price, general health, friendliness, etc, for both the Chinook and the German Pinscher.

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Chinook and the German Pinscher is better suited for new dog owners, for owners with kids, for owners that live in apartments, for owners with dog allergies, etc.

Importantly, we did some analysis and calculation and we obtained a number that we call the Better-Pet Score™ for both the Chinook and for the German Pinscher. The dog breed with the higher Better-Pet score is the `better` pet. We hope that these Better-Pet Scores will provide you with more insight into deciding which pet to get between the Chinook and the German Pinscher.

Our only goal here is to help you make a well-thought-out decision on your next long-term companion, be it the Chinook or the German Pinscher.

Chinook versus German Pinscher

Chinook versus German Pinscher: Overview

A very important difference between the Chinook and the German Pinscher is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The Chinook is a large-sized dog while the German Pinscher is a medium-sized dog.

Furthermore, both the Chinook and the German Pinscher are Working Dogs. This means both the Chinook and the German Pinscher were developed to assist humans in some capacity – including pulling sleds and carts, guarding flocks, guarding homes, and protecting their families. Breeds in the Working Group are known for their imposing stature, strength, intelligence, and fearless. Because of their size and strength, working dogs require a structured home life and firm, fair, consistent training by someone who can provide leadership without resorting to anger or physical force.

Chinook versus German Pinscher: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Chinook to the German Pinscher based on different important factors such as Price, Health, Kid-friendliness, etc.

When a dog breed scores higher for a factor than the other dog breed, the box of the breed that scores higher is shaded green and the box of the breed that scores lower is shaded red. When there is no difference between the breeds for a particular factor then the box is shaded gray for both pets. Also, when the factor is not important in picking a pet, or when the factor cannot be compared between two pets, the box for the factor is shaded gray for both pets

Most of the factors in the table for each dog breed are ranked on a scale of 1 to 5. “1” means “worst”, and “5” means “best”.

However, some factors such as “Price”, “Average Lifespan”, etc. cannot be on a scale of 1 to 5, so they are not on a scale of 1 to 5 in the comparison table.

Later in this article, we will further explain each factor as it applies to the Chinook and the German Pinscher

Factor Chinook German Pinscher
Good For Novice Owners 1/5 3/5
Tolerates Being Alone 1/5 3/5
Does NOT Drool 5/5 5/5
Life Span 12 to 15 years 12 to 14 years
Easy To Groom 2/5 5/5
Low Prey Drive 4/5 1/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 4/5 3/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 4/5 2/5
Height 21 to 27 inches tall at the shoulder 17 to 20 inches tall at the shoulder
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 3/5 3/5
Does NOT chew on things 3/5 3/5
NOT Rambunctious 3/5 1/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 3/5 3/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 3/5 1/5
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 4/5 3/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 4/5 4/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 4/5 2/5
General Health 4/5 4/5
Easy To Train 4/5 4/5
Potential For Playfulness 4/5 5/5
Easygoing 1/5 2/5
Tolerates Cold Weather 5/5 3/5
Affectionate With Family 5/5 5/5
Kid-Friendly 5/5 3/5
Dog Friendly 5/5 2/5
Does NOT Shed 1/5 3/5
Intelligence 5/5 5/5
Weight 55 to 70 pounds 25 to 45 pounds
Average Lifespan 13.5 years 13.0 years
Price Range No Data $1150 – $2688
Average Price No Data $2040
Temperament Score 77.8 percent 91.9 percent
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Clear By Parentage
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • von Willebrand`s Disease
  • Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds 177 135

    Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the Chinook in the table (that is, `Ease of Grooming` score + `General Health` score + `Calmness` score + …etc) and we compared it to the corresponding total score for the German Pinscher. We call these total scores the Better-Pet Scores, as we mentioned earlier. We called this score the Better-Pet score because the better dog breed will have a higher score. This is because the pet will the higher score will have minimal needs and be easier to have as a pet.

    The Better-Pet score for the Chinook is 87 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for the German Pinscher is 78 out of 125.

    Based on their Better-Pet scores, the Chinook is a better pet than the German Pinscher. So, you should get the Chinook!

    Although we have done our best to analyze these two dog breeds in a very unbiased way, however, we will like to let you know that there are some dog attributes that cannot be assigned a number for comparison. We cannot put a number on how cute a dog breed is, for example. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

    Also, the dog breed that best suits you will depend on your peculiar lifestyle, your taste, and your priorities, which we do not know. So, for you to decide on which breed is right for you, read through the rest of the article to further understand both the Chinook and the German Pinscher so that you can make your own well-informed decision on which pet to get.

    The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Chinook and the German Pinscher

    Below is a list of where the Chinook and the German Pinscher are most different:

  • Chinooks require a lot of grooming and are not very easy to groom. However, German Pinschers are very easy to groom.
  • Chinooks have a very low prey drive. This means they get along well with other pets. However, German Pinschers have a high prey drive. They do not get along well with other pets.
  • Chinooks get along well with other dogs. However, German Pinschers do not get along well with other dogs.
  • The Similarities Between the Chinook and the German Pinscher

    The Chinook and the German Pinscher are very similar in certain aspects. Below is the list of where the Chinook and the German Pinscher are most similar:

  • Both the Chinook and the German Pinscher do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Both the Chinook and the German Pinscher are not very vocal. They have very low tendency to bark and howl.
  • Both the Chinook and the German Pinscher adapt well to apartment living.
  • Both the Chinook and the German Pinscher can tolerate hot weather.
  • Both the Chinook and the German Pinscher are very healthy. They do not suffer from a lot of health problems compared to other dog breeds
  • Both the Chinook and the German Pinscher are very easy to train.
  • Both the Chinook and the German Pinscher are very playful.
  • Both the Chinook and the German Pinscher are easily disturbed by noise in their environments. They are sensitive to human tone. They will understand the tone of your voice when you try to correct their behaviors with a firm tone.
  • Both the Chinook and the German Pinscher are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the Chinook and the German Pinscher are highly intelligent.
  • Size (Weight and Height) of Chinook versus German Pinscher

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Chinook and the German Pinscher.

    Chinooks weigh 55 to 70 pounds when fully grown. Chinooks are 21 to 27 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    On the other hand, German Pinschers weigh 25 to 45 pounds when fully grown. German Pinschers are 17 to 20 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    Lifespan of Chinook versus German Pinscher

    The lifespan of Chinooks is between 12 to 15 years. The average lifespan of Chinooks is 13.5 years.

    The lifespan of German Pinschers is between 12 to 14 years. The average lifespan of German Pinschers is 13.0 years.

    Chinooks live longer than German Pinschers.

    Temperament of the Chinook Versus the German Pinscher

    The German Pinscher has a better temperament than the Chinook.

    This is because the temperament score for the German Pinscher is 91.9 percent while the temperament score for the Chinook is 77.8 percent, according to the American Temperament Test Society (ATTS).

    The American Temperament Test Society (ATTS) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide fair and objective evaluations of the temperaments of dog breeds.

    Dog breeds with low temperament scores tend to show unprovoked aggression, they easily panic without quickly recovering from the panic, and they tend to avoid people. However, dog breeds with high temperament scores are not aggressive and are not shy. Also, these dogs are generally friendly and are protective of their owners.

    The average temperament score across all dog breeds (over 250 breeds) is 83.7 percent.

    With its temperament score of 77.8 percent, the Chinook has a below-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    With its temperament score of 91.9 percent, the German Pinscher has an above-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    The ATTS obtained the temperament scores of the Chinook and the German Pinscher by measuring the temperaments of 9 Chinooks and 37 German Pinschers.

    The Popularity of Chinook versus Popularity of German Pinscher

    Every year, the American Kennel Club (AKC) publishes information on how popular a dog breed is in that particular year. The AKC gets the popularity information of a breed from how many dogs of that breed the owners register with the AKC every year. The AKC collects this data for about 200 dog breeds. The AKC collects this data for purebred dogs only(no mixed or hybrid dogs).

    The graphs and the table below show the popularity of the Chinook and the German Pinscher over the years.

    Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the German Pinscher is more popular with dog owners than the Chinook. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the German Pinscher is 135 out of about 200 dog breeds while the average popularity of the Chinook is 177 out of about 200 dog breeds.

    Popularity of Chinook

    Popularity of Chinook

    Popularity of German Pinscher

    Popularity of German Pinscher

    Year Chinook Popularity Rank German Pinscher Popularity Rank
    2013 156 130
    2014 171 141
    2015 177 138
    2016 175 146
    2017 179 136
    2018 190 134
    2019 184 123
    2020 186 139

    Health Problems of Chinook versus Health Problems of German Pinscher

    Every dog breed has its own set of health problems that it has a tendency to develop. There is nothing like a perfect dog breed.

    Both the Chinook and the German Pinscher are prone to certain genetic health conditions. The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) is the organization that keeps track of health problems in dogs. Based on the extensive records that the OFA keeps, the OFA knows what health problems each dog breed is naturally prone to develop. Hence, the OFA recommends which health screening that breeders should perform on a dog breed to make sure that the breeders won`t breed `defective` dog parents that can pass down defective genes to their puppy offspring.

    The more health problems a dog breed is prone to develop, the more health tests the OFA will recommend for that dog breed.

    Based on our review of OFA records, we found that the German Pinscher is prone to more genetic health problems than the Chinook.

    This is because the OFA recommends more screening health tests for the German Pinscher than for the Chinook.

    3 health tests are recommended for Chinook while 4 tests are recommended for the German Pinscher.

    Below is a detailed discussion of health problems in Chinooks and in German Pinschers.

    Chinook Health Problems

    Chinooks are genetically prone to certain health problems. However, breeders can reduce the chances of producing Chinook puppies with genetic defects by making sure that a puppy`s parents are free from genetic health problems before allowing the parent to make puppies.

    The OFA provides breeders recommendations on which genetic diseases that breeders should screen their dog parents and puppies for.

    If you want a Chinook puppy that will grow up to be healthy, make sure that your Chinook breeder screens your puppy or your puppy`s parents for the health problems that the OFA recommends for your puppy`s breed. This will increase the chances that your puppy is free from genetic defects.

    The following are the health tests that Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) recommends that breeders should screen Chinooks for:

  • Clear By Parentage
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Chinooks here.

    German Pinscher Health Problems

    German Pinschers are genetically prone to certain health problems. However, breeders can reduce the chances of producing German Pinscher puppies with genetic defects by making sure that a puppy`s parents are free from genetic health problems before allowing the parent to make puppies.

    The OFA provides breeders recommendations on which genetic diseases that breeders should screen their dog parents and puppies for.

    If you want a German Pinscher puppy that will grow up to be healthy, make sure that your German Pinscher breeder screens your puppy or your puppy`s parents for the health problems that the OFA recommends for your puppy`s breed. This will increase the chances that your puppy is free from genetic defects.

    The following are the health tests that Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) recommends that breeders should screen German Pinschers for:

  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • von Willebrand`s Disease
  • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for German Pinschers here.

    More Discussions on Health Problems in Chinooks and German Pinschers

    Based on our analysis of data from the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals, of all known genetic health problems in dogs, the health problem that is most commonly seen in the Chinook Breed is Patella problems.

    This is because the Chinook ranks 5 out of 145 dog breeds for Patella problems. In fact, in a health test conducted on 52 Chinooks, 5 of them had Patella problems.

    The genetic diseases that were found to commonly occur in Chinooks, and how common these diseases are in Chinooks relative to other dog breeds, are given below:

  • Patella problems: Rank 5 out of 145 Dog Breeds
  • Hips problems: Rank 63 out of 198 Dog Breeds
  • Eyes problems: Rank 82 out of 182 Dog Breeds
  • Based on our analysis of data from the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals, of all known genetic health problems in dogs, the health problem that is most commonly seen in the German Pinscher Breed is Advanced Cardiac problems.

    This is because the German Pinscher ranks 11 out of 71 dog breeds for Advanced Cardiac problems. In fact, in a health test conducted on 77 German Pinschers, 2 of them had Advanced Cardiac problems.

    The genetic diseases that were found to commonly occur in German Pinschers, and how common these diseases are in German Pinschers relative to other dog breeds, are given below:

  • Advanced Cardiac problems: Rank 11 out of 71 Dog Breeds
  • Congenital Cardiac problems: Rank 15 out of 159 Dog Breeds
  • Thyroid problems: Rank 56 out of 115 Dog Breeds
  • Elbow problems: Rank 95 out of 144 Dog Breeds
  • Eyes problems: Rank 110 out of 182 Dog Breeds
  • Hips problems: Rank 196 out of 198 Dog Breeds
  • The table below lists the common health problems in Chinook and in German Pinscher and the rank (prevalence), compared to other dogs, of these health problems in the Chinook and the German Pinscher:

    Disease Chinook Rank German Pinscher Rank
    Patella problems 5 out of 145 dog breeds Not Common
    Hips problems 63 out of 198 dog breeds 196 out of 198 dog breeds
    Eyes problems 82 out of 182 dog breeds 110 out of 182 dog breeds
    Advanced Cardiac problems Not Common 11 out of 71 dog breeds
    Congenital Cardiac problems Not Common 15 out of 159 dog breeds
    Thyroid problems Not Common 56 out of 115 dog breeds
    Elbow problems Not Common 95 out of 144 dog breeds

    *To learn more about each of these diseases, go to OFA.org and search for the disease.

    Again, most of these health problems can be prevented through health screening. Responsible breeders screen male and female dog parents for genetic problems. These breeders will only breed dogs that are free of genetic defects. That way, there is little or no chance that their puppies will grow up to have genetic health problems. Always ask a breeder for the list of health tests the breeder screens their dogs for before buying a puppy from such a breeder.

    Tolerates Being Alone: Chinook versus German Pinscher

    Chinooks do not like to be left alone.

    German Pinschers can be left alone only for a short time.

    Do Chinooks shed more than German Pinschers?

    Chinooks shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.

    German Pinschers shed moderately.

    Which one drools more, the Chinook or the German Pinscher

    Chinooks do have a very low tendency to drool.

    German Pinschers do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Chinook or the German Pinscher?

    Chinooks require a lot of grooming and they are not very easy to groom.

    German Pinschers are very easy to groom.

    Does the Chinook Have a Higher Prey Drive than the German Pinscher?

    Chinooks have a very low prey drive. This means they get won`t chase after smaller pets. They tend to get along well with other pets.

    German Pinschers have a high prey drive. They have the tendency to chase after smaller animals and pets. They do not get along well with other pets.

    Do Chinooks Bark and Howl? What about German Pinschers?

    Chinooks are not very vocal. They do not tend to bark and howl.

    German Pinschers bark and howl, but not very much.

    Can Chinooks Tolerate Cold Weather? And can German Pinschers Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Chinooks can very well tolerate cold weather.

    German Pinschers can moderately tolerate cold weather.

    Wanderlust Potential: Chinook vs. German Pinscher

    Chinooks do not have the potential to wander after things that capture their attention. They tend to stay around where you leave them.

    German Pinschers have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects.

    Can Chinooks Tolerate Hot Weather? Can German Pinschers Tolerate Hot Weather?

    Chinooks can tolerate hot weather.

    German Pinschers can tolerate hot weather.

    Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Chinook or the German Pinscher?

    Chinooks get along very well with other dogs.

    German Pinschers do not get along well with other dogs.

    Are Chinooks good family dogs? What about German Pinschers?

    Chinooks are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    German Pinschers are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    How Kid-friendly are Chinooks and German Pinschers?

    Chinooks get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

    German Pinschers get along fairly well with kids. They are quite kid-friendly.

    Is the Chinook Easier to Train than the German Pinscher?

    Chinooks are very easy to train.

    German Pinschers are very easy to train.

    Is the Chinook Better for Apartment Owners than the German Pinscher?

    Chinooks adapt very well to apartment living.

    German Pinschers adapt moderately well to apartment living.

    Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Chinook or the German Pinscher?

    Chinooks are not the best dogs for new dog owners.

    German Pinschers are OK for new dog owners.

    Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Chinook

    Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the Chinook that you can consider on your quest to get the best pet.

    We crunched the numbers and found that the following dog breeds have similar personality and temperament as the Chinook:

  • Keeshond (76 percent match with Chinook). Here is our comparison of the German Pinscher vs Keeshond.
  • King Shepherd (75 percent match with Chinook). Here is our comparison of the German Pinscher vs King Shepherd.
  • Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the German Pinscher

    Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the German Pinscher that you can consider on your quest to get the best pet.

    We crunched the numbers and found that the following dog breeds have similar personality and temperament as the German Pinscher:

  • Australian Kelpie (79 percent match with German Pinscher). Here is our comparison of the Chinook vs Australian Kelpie.
  • Belgian Malinois (80 percent match with German Pinscher). Here is our comparison of the Chinook vs Belgian Malinois.
  • German Wirehaired Pointer (83 percent match with German Pinscher). Here is our comparison of the Chinook vs German Wirehaired Pointer.
  • Mudi (79 percent match with German Pinscher). Here is our comparison of the Chinook vs Mudi.
  • Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You

    You may also be interested in how the Chinook and how the German Pinscher compares to other breeds. So, see below the comparison of the Chinook and of the German Pinscher to other breeds:

    Chinook Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Chinook versus Rottweiler     Chinook versus Chi-Poo     Chinook versus Tibetan Terrier     Chinook versus Irish Wolfhound     Chinook versus Japanese Spitz     Chinook versus Braque du Bourbonnais     Chinook versus Appenzeller Sennenhunde     Chinook versus Chow Chow     Chinook versus Norfolk Terrier     Chinook versus Rhodesian Ridgeback     Chinook versus Tibetan Spaniel     Chinook versus Norwich Terrier     Chinook versus Yorkipoo     Chinook versus Stabyhoun     Chinook versus Sheepadoodle     Chinook versus Australian Terrier     Chinook versus Silky Terrier     Chinook versus Westiepoo     Chinook versus Toy Fox Terrier     Chinook versus Pyredoodle     Chinook versus Black and Tan Coonhound     Chinook versus Miniature Schnauzer     Chinook versus Shiloh Shepherd     Chinook versus Mountain Cur     Chinook versus Basset Hound     

    German Pinscher Versus Other Dog Breeds

    German Pinscher versus Catahoula Leopard Dog     German Pinscher versus Bull Terrier     German Pinscher versus Mal Shi     German Pinscher versus German Shorthaired Pointer     German Pinscher versus English Cocker Spaniel     German Pinscher versus English Springer Spaniel     German Pinscher versus Pomsky     German Pinscher versus Beaglier     German Pinscher versus French Spaniel     German Pinscher versus Afghan Hound     German Pinscher versus Chow Chow     German Pinscher versus Boston Terrier     German Pinscher versus Sealyham Terrier     German Pinscher versus Japanese Spitz     German Pinscher versus Portuguese Pointer     German Pinscher versus Belgian Tervuren     German Pinscher versus Vizsla     German Pinscher versus Kerry Blue Terrier     German Pinscher versus Shih Tzu     German Pinscher versus Pharaoh Hound     German Pinscher versus Tibetan Mastiff     German Pinscher versus Italian Greyhound     German Pinscher versus Puggle     German Pinscher versus Tibetan Spaniel     German Pinscher versus Fila Brasileiro     

    Conclusion: Chinook versus German Pinscher. Which One is a Better Pet?

    In summary, there is nothing like a better dog breed or a worse dog breed. The important question to ask is which dog breed better matches your interests and lifestyle. We hope our discussion above will help you in deciding which dog breed between the Chinook and the German Pinscher better suits you and your family.